Minor league roundup: Bristol bruises Royals late

BRISTOL, Va. — The Bristol White Sox scored in the last two innings and edged the Burlington Royals 6-5 in in Appalachian League baseball Sunday night.

So the start of a season-ending, six-game road trip went sour for the Royals (27-35), who’ve lost five of their last six games.

Burlington’s Mike Mercurio, who entered the game as the third baseman amid defensive switches in the bottom of the ninth, made a one-out throwing error that allowed the winning run to score with one out after reliever Jose Rodriguez (3-2) walked the first two batters of the inning.

Bristol (17-43), which owns the league’s worst record, scored twice in the eighth to take a 5-4 lead. The Royals drew even in the top of the ninth when Desmond Henry scored on a two-out passed ball.

Earlier, the Royals tied the game on Chad Johnson’s two-out triple in the fourth and went ahead in the next inning on Andrew Ayers’ two-out triple.